Welcome!

We’re so glad you’re here! When you come for a visit, expect it to feel like hanging out with a friend — one who cares a lot about your hair.

To help you prepare for your appointment, we’ve laid out some policies and best practices to help make your hair dreams come true. Keep reading to learn how to book, how to prepare your hair, and what to expect from your experience at Coastal Curl.

Step 1: Booking

  • Currently, we require all appointments to be made online via Vagaro, our digital booking platform.

    As a rule - We do NOT book appointments via phone, text, or email.

    Please click here to make an appointment.

    Our calendar is available for bookings up to 30 days out. Since we’re a tiny team of two stylists, our appointments can be very limited. We highly recommend adding your name and contact information to our Vagaro Waitlist if you cannot find an open slot.

  • While all of our stylists are experienced with textured hair, each stylist has a unique background and specialty. Explore our stylist page to learn more and find the best fit.

Step 2: Hair prep

  • Arrive to your appointment with your hair styled down, fully dry, and recently washed, as you would wear it on the first day or second day of a wash cycle.

    Please, NO buns, braids, or ponytails, as they affect the shape of your hair.

    You should style your hair with your normal products, but please avoid coming with excessive oils or tangles in the hair.

    This helps us see the full, natural beauty of your curls, which helps us assess what products and styles will work best for you. Your hair and your time are precious, and we want to treat it as such.

  • Please bring detailed notes, photos, or even a video of your styling routine and current products. We can make suggestions about products or techniques to enhance your curls.

  • We highly recommend detoxing harsh products from your hair at home prior to your appointment. Many mainstream and drugstore products are formulated with silicones, heavy oils and butters, and drying alcohols that block moisture from soaking into your hair.

    To begin the process at home, check out our Amazon Storefront, with some of our favorite products for cleansing and clarifying.

  • We love inspiration photos and anti-inspiration photos (aka any haircuts you absolutely hated). If you’re not sure what you’re looking for yet, head over to our Instagram, where we share lots of photos and videos from our clients and other natural-haired beauties from across the web.

Step 3: Relax

  • Our hair studio is intimate, yet bright and plant-filled, with books to read and enjoy before or during your service. We play a mix of upbeat global music (usually oldies) and we offer complimentary snacks and beverages. We’re also conveniently located in Uptown Oakland, surrounded by many great restaurants and stores.

  • We believe that quality haircuts are affirming experiences for everyone, helping us embrace the fullest version of ourselves. We are committed to creating a gender-inclusive safe space in the salon. If there are any accommodations you need, we are happy to work with you to come up with a solution.